TAMPA, Fla. — The Giants passing game has been a pleasant surprise the opening two weeks of the NFL season. Concerns about the departure of Amani Toomer and the incarceration of Plaxico Burress and all the speculation over who would replace them have faded after impressive performances by Steve Smith and Mario Manningham.
In the Giants’ 33-31 victory that spoiled the debut of Cowboys Stadium last week, the duo became the first two players in Giants history to have double-digit receptions in the same game. It also marked the first time two players totaled more than 100 yards receiving since Toomer and Burress did it at Philadelphia in 2006.
“We have had more big plays in the passing game so far this year than we have had in the past,” said quarterback Eli Manning, who has thrown for 586 yards and three touchdowns in two games. “That is good to see.”
Though a productive passing game is “good to see,” it can’t become a crutch if the Giants are to become a dominant team. Re-establishing the potency of their running game needs to be the priority today when they face the Buccaneers (0-2) at Raymond James Stadium.
This should be the game where the Giants remind people, “They are who we thought they were,” a team with a punishing running game that controls the line of scrimmage.
Thus far, that hasn’t been the case, a reality excused by the production in the passing game. The Redskins and the Cowboys focused on stopping the run, putting eight men near the line of scrimmage, daring Manning to beat them in the air, which he did.
Now that Smith and Manningham have proven themselves to be a threat, the Buccaneers might not be as quick to pack the line of scrimmage.
“I am looking forward to seeing how teams are going to adjust to playing us,” said running back Brandon Jacobs, who has earned a total of 100 yards rushing in two games.
The Giants led the league with 157.4 yards rushing per game last year, but this week rank 22nd averaging 100 yards per game, a number coach Tom Coughlin would like to see improve today.
“The defense is trying to number one, stop the run,” Coughlin said. “And we have been able to take advantage to a certain extent of some other things. But we need the running game to get going. Let’s face it, we do. We need to run the ball and stop the run. That is where we start every week.”
The Bucs (0-2) look to be the perfect opponent on which to jumpstart the running game. Their run defense is ranked 28th in the league allowing 168 yards per game, including a healthy 5.7 yards per carry.
“We have to know how to play better and some of those guys that we have drafted over the years have to step up,” Tampa Bay rookie coach Raheem Morris said.
It was Dennis Green who said of the Bears, “they are who we thought they were.” Maybe today, the Giants leave the Bucs and the rest of the NFL saying the same thing.
george.willis@nypost.com